Grease Receptor

ABSTRACT

A grease collection unit including a drain tube that is removably connected to a drain pipe from an exhaust unit, a hollow housing that is connected to the drain tube, and a tray that slides in and out of the housing. Grease from an exhaust unit flows through the drain tube and collects in the tray. When the tray is full, it may be removed from the housing so that the grease can be properly discarded.

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.60/732,921 filed on Nov. 2, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commercial kitchens, such as in restaurants and fast food outlets,frequently have a ventilation hood over stoves, grills, broilers and thelike for collecting and exhausting the smoke and fumes generated bycooking processes. Hot grease-laden air rises into the hood, and isdrawn into a duct by means of a motor driven blower mounted on thekitchen roof or adjacent area. The contaminated air is exhausted to theoutdoors.

A frequent problem with many kitchen exhaust units is the excessiveaccumulation of solid or semi-solid grease on various parts of theexhaust blower unit and on the adjacent roof and surrounding surface.This creates a significant fire hazard and also damages the roof overtime. Also, rain water that flows off the roof is contaminated with thegrease and gets into the gutters and soil.

Thus, one aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus forcollecting and containing airborne grease from an exhaust unit. Anotheraspect of the present invention enables proper disposal of the grease sothat it does not accumulate on the roof or surface adjacent to theexhaust unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention is better understood by a reading of the DetailedDescription of the Invention along with a review of the drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the grease receptor according to an aspectof an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exhaust unit connected to a greasereceptor according to an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the Figures, the grease receptor 10 has a housing 14 with aremovable tray 16 disposed therein. The removable tray 16 fits withinthe housing 14, such as in a sliding engagement. In one aspect of thepresent invention, the housing 14 is waterproof and airtight when thetray 16 is disposed within the housing 14. In another aspect of theinvention, the tray 16 slides out of only one side of the housing 14 anda handle 24 is provided to enable the user to easily pull the tray 16out of the housing 14. In an additional aspect of the present invention,the tray 16 is almost as wide and deep as the housing 16 to maximize theamount of grease that may be collected in the tray 16.

The receptor 10 also includes a drain tube 12 that communicates with theexisting pipe 26 of an exhaust unit 22, as shown in FIG. 2. A sleeveadaptor (not shown) may be provided to connect the exhaust unit's pipe26 to the drain tube 12. The bottom of the drain tube 12 is connected tothe housing 14.

During operation, grease from the exhaust unit 22 drips into the pipe 26and then flows through the drain tube 12 into the housing 14 andcollects in the tray 16. A gauge 18 is provided on the housing 14 thatindicates the quantity of grease that has collected in the tray 16. Whenthe tray 16 becomes full with grease, the user removes the tray 16 fromthe housing 14 to appropriately discard the grease. The grease receptor10 also includes an automatic shut-off valve 20 that is provided on atbase of the drain tube 12. When the tray 16 is removed from the housing14, the shut-off valve 20, which is a hinged flip/slide valve controlledby a spring according to one aspect of the present invention,automatically cuts off the flow of grease from the drain tube 12 intothe housing 14.

The grease receptor 10, as described above, enables the efficientcollection and containment of grease from exhaust units, particularly,roof-top exhaust units. The receptor also enables the user to properlydiscard of the collected grease.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the foregoing description. For example, thegrease receptor 12 is not limited to being manufactured in anyparticular material, however, materials such as metals and plastics aresuitable for the drain tube 12, housing 14, and tray 16. All suchmodifications and improvements of the present invention have beendeleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but areproperly within the scope of the following claims.

1. A grease collection unit comprising: a drain tube that is configuredto be removably connected to a drain pipe from an exhaust unit; ahousing that is connected to the drain tube; and a tray that isremovably disposed within the housing; wherein grease from the exhaustunit flows through the drain tube and collects in the tray within thehousing; and wherein the tray may be removed from the housing to discardthe grease that collects in the tray.
 2. The grease collection unit ofclaim 1 wherein the tray is disposed within the housing in a slidingengagement.
 3. The grease collection unit of claim 1 wherein the housingis airtight and waterproof when the tray is disposed within the housing.4. The grease collection unit of claim 1 wherein the hollow housing isenclosed on all sides except for one side which enables the tray to beremoved from the housing.
 5. The grease collection unit of claim 1further comprising a shut-off valve disposed at the base of the draintube such that when the tray is removed from the housing the shut-offvalve automatically stops the flow of grease from the drain tube intothe housing.
 6. The grease collection unit of claim 1 wherein thehousing further comprises a gauge that indicates the amount of greasethat has collected in the tray.